Lacing device for stranding machines

ABSTRACT

A wrapping device for stranding machines, in which reserve units comprising optionally operable units comprising a stranding disc and spinning head, rotatable on a common axis into an operative position, whereby one or the other, not in an operable position, can be resupplied with supply core or spools so that shut-down time is minimized.

United States Patent 1191 Dahmen 5] Apr. 29, 1975 LACING DEVICE FORSTRANDING [56] References Cited MACHINES UNITED STATES PATENTS [75]Inventor: Hans Peter Dahmen, Wipperfurth 2.981.049 4/1961 Crosley at a]7. 57/14 X Germany 3.412.544 1l/l968 Sergi et al 57/6 X [73] Asslgnee:{fi Ei EE E gL EZT Primary Examiner-John W. Huckert pp AssisramExaminer-Charles Gorenstein [22] Filed: Oct. 3. 1973 Arrornqv, Agent, orFirmHolman & Stern 2! A 1. No.: 403,003 1 pp 57 ABSTRACT A wrappingdevice for stranding machines, in which [30} Foreign Apphcauon Prmm'vData reserve units comprising optionally operable units 3348409comprising a stranding disc and spinning head, rotatable on a commonaxis into an operative position. [52] US 57/123 57/18? 57/19 whereby oneor the other, not in an operable position, [5 ll '3'- Cl 3/02? DO-lb3/06; D07!) 7/00 can be resupplied with supply core or spools so that[58] Fleld of Search 57/3, 6 l0-l4, Shutdown time is minimized 5 Claims.10 Drawing Figures PMENTEE APR 29 i975 SHLU 2 BF 5 LACING DEVICE FORSTRANDING MACHINES The invention concerns a wrapping device forstranding machines with a unit consisting of a stranding disk and aspinning head for braiding the strands. In particular such a unit has astranding disk, a stranding nipple and a spinning head consisting of aspool and spinning can, one behind the other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Description of the Prior Art A wrappingdevice is known in the form of a braiding device for cables with longstrands in the German AS 1,510 102, to achieve a maximum strand length,it is suggested that a magazine holder, fitted coaxially to the cablecord, should take several strand wheels arranged one behind the other,which can be uncoiled without stopping the central strand winder bythrough connection and routing the strands in a particular way. When thestrand has been used, or at the latest when a particular length of cableor stranded cord has been produced the whole system must be stoppeduntil the new stranding core has been received on the stranding spindle,new spools have been added to the strand spinners in the stranding axis,and the strands or yarns have been laid on the cable cord, the timetaken to accomplish this considerably impairs the productive operatingtime of the expensive stranding machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object aim of the invention is to constructa wrapping device for stranding machines of the type mentioned so thatthe time expended to re-equip the system is kept to a minimum andoptimum use is made of the machine.

The invention achieves this aim by having a reserve unit consisting of astranding disk and spinning head, the two units being rotated like adial around a common shaft in the stranding axis. In the preferredembodiment, a common shaft is arranged with its axis parallel to thestranding axis and there are two units at 180 to the axis of the shaft.In this way, while one unit is being used, the other can be sufficientlyre-equipped by attaching cores and adding spools, so that at the end ofthe operating cycle it can be simply oriented into the operatingposition, i.e., into the stranding axis. The whole system is immediatelyready for use again and the next operating cycle can begin.

In this preferred embodiment, the spinning can of every spinning headhas a gear which can be selectively driven by a common drive.

In a practical embodiment especially suitable for stranding cords ofsmall diameter, the spinning head consisting of a spool and spinning canis arranged coaxially to the stranding cord axis, and the strand is fedvia a strand guide fixed to the spinning can to the stranding cord. Itis advisable to provide the spool with a casing and a support, which isconnected to the spinning head via a braking device which is dependenton the speed. In another practical embodiment especially suitable forlacing stranded cords of large diameter, the spool of the spinning headis arranged outside the stranding cord axis on a disk which can berotated concentrically to the stranding cord axis.

The invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawing,as follows:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows a schematic sideelevational view of a stranding machine incorporating the wrappingdevice of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view the stranding machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the strandingmachine in FIG. 1 with portions broken away and show in section at thespinning heads which are rotatable through FIG. 4 is a front elevationof FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow A, comprising asimplified schematic representation, with the spinning head in anoperational position;

FIG. 5 is a unit, partially in section showing two spinning heads, inwhich the spool lie centrally to the axis of the cable movement;

FIG. 6 is another unit similar to the unit in FIG. 5 showing twospinning heads, in which several spools are arranged eccentrically tothe axis of the cable movement;

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged, axial section of the spinning head as inFIGS. 3 and 5;

FIG. 8 is a section on line lI through the spinning head of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail of FIG. 3,

FIG. 10 is an elevational view looking in the direction of arrow B ofFIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A double twist bunchingmachine, shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2, is used to manufacturestranded cables from cores, e.g., basic and main groups for signalcables, lines or other stranded cords, which require wrapping or adistinguishing feature in the form of spirals, on the surface.

From a group of feed spools 1, cores 2 are fed to a stranding disk 4which lies in the stranding axis 3. After leaving a stranding nipple 5on the stranding disk 4, the cores 2 run as a stranding cord 6concentrically through a spinning head 7, where the stranding cord 6 iswrapped or wound round strand coming from a spool 8. A reserve spool 10is arranged downstream of the spinning head 7, and the stranding cord 6passes through it into the machine 11 with a winding spool 12 inside it.The spinning head 7 in the stranding axis 3 and the stranding disk 4,which also lies in the stranding axis, and the spool 8 form a unit,similar to another unit consisting of a stranding disk 4', a spinninghead 7' and a reserve spool 8' arranged parallel to its axis see FIG. 2.The two units are connected to one another by a distribution gear 13 andcan be rotated through l80 about a shaft 14 which lies between them. Thesecond unit serves to wind an additional stranded cord 6', which isproduced from the cores 2' of another group of feed spools 1' seeFIG. 1. By rotating the two units 7, 7' through one unit can be broughtfrom the stranding axis 3 into a position parallel with it, and theother unit brought into the stranding axis.

As soon as the end of the stranded cord is reached, i.e., the firstgroup of feed spools l is empty and the cores coming from them are onthe winding spool 12 as a stranded and wrapped unit, when the machine isat rest, the ends of the cord between the reserve spool 10 and themachine 11 are cut off. Then, the two spinning heads 7, 7' are rotatedthrough l80 about the shaft 14, so the spinning head 7' and thestranding disk 4' and the reserve spool as well as the cores which havebeen brought in and are payed out into an operational position, i.e.,into the stranding axis. These cores are connected to the cord hangingout of the machine 11, and the whole system can then start operatingagain. As customary, the connecting point is allowed to run to thewinding spool 12, the winding spool change is then made and the nextoperating cycle begins.

The operator servicing the machine can therefore renew the feed spoolsnot being used, during the stranding process, and bring the cores of thenew feed spools into the unit outside the stranding axis consisting ofthe stranding disk 4 or 4', the stranding nipple 5 or 5', the spinninghead 7 or 7' and the reserve spool 10 or 10', and exchange empty spoolswhile one or the other is operating for full spools.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the spinning heads on an enlarged scale. The drive ofthe two spinning heads 7, 7 includes in housing drive shaft 21, atransmission 22, intermediate drives 23 and 24; intermediate drive 24driving the shaft 25 of drive 26. At 27 is a member for locking thespinning heads 7, 7' in an operational position.

The units 7, 7' shown in FIG. 5 with spinning heads, correspond to theunits of the machine in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the units shown in FIGS. 3 and4. Units with such spinning heads are able to wind a stranded cord withone strand. The two units shown in FIG. 6, however, are able to wind twostrands round a cord, for this purpose several spools 8" are providedexcentrically to the winding head axis, and have a circular path on anaxis parallel to the winding head axis. Apart from this differentarrangement of the spools, the device is the same as those in the otherfigures and is used if thick cords are to be wound, it differs from theembodiments in FIGS. 1 to 5 in that its cord passage opening is notlimited. Although the danger of imbalance is not so great, the spools 8"are arranged symmetrically to the spinning head axis and thus to thecable axis and spools of equal size are used.

The spinning head 7, shown in more detail in FIG. 7 has a shaft 30 towhich is screwed a spinning can 31. Inside the spinning can 31 on theshaft 30 is a movable casing 32, which is connected to the spinning can31 via a support 33 which is firmly connected to it and extends in aradial direction as well as via a braking device 34. The spool 8 liesfirmly on the casing 32 and is set in motion with the casing by thefeeding of the strand 9. For this purpose, the strand 9 runs firstthrough a ring nipple 35, which is so arranged and secured on the innerwalling of the spinning can 31 that a constant sideways feeding angle isachieved from both spool flanges. At a distance from this, is a furtherring nipple 36 which is also secured at the spinning can 31 and passesthe strand through a tulip-like centering nipple 37 in the spinning axisto the stranding cord 6 which runs concentrically through the centeringnipple. The rotation of the spinning can 31 gives the spiral wrapping ofthe cord. As the spinning can 31 rotates very fast, imbalances caneasily occur due to unequal mass distribution. For this purpose, thespinning can 31 can be provided with further ring nipples diametrally tothe two ring nipples and 36 (as shown in the diagram), which can also beused during reversal of the direction of rotation.

On the driven side of the shaft 30 is a spring-loaded clutch 38 forseparating the unit not being used from the drive 26 (FIGS. 3 and 7).The clutch 38 consists of an axially adjustable ring member 39, whichhas several axial projections 40 arranged radially and in the engagedposition is positively connected to a drive pulley 41 comprising part ofthe drive 26. In the disengaged position after a slight turn of the ringmember 39, the projections 40 are held in bores 42 of an axially fixedcentre plate 43 by a spring 44.

So that frictional forces in the bearings 45 of the centre plate 43 donot give rise to uncontrollable corotation, an additional restrainingdevice 46 is provided for the spinning head 31 which is released fromthe drive.

In FIG. 8 a device 47 for automatic warning of strand breaks isdisclosed, which device is installed near the tulip-like centring nipple37. This device consists essentially of a hoop 48 which is carried bybolts 49. The hoop 48 is forced to stay in the solid line position shownin FIG. 7 by the strand 9, which is under load. If the strand breaks,the hoop leaves this position and rights itself by means of thecentrifugal force resulting from its rotation with the spinning can andtakes up the dotted position II. It thus touches a contact 50 in acircuit 50a and causes a signal to switch off the whole system viaelectrical controls not described or shown here in detail.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 the braking device 34 for stopping the spool 8 isdescribed in more detail. It consists essentially of a braking plate 51which is connected firmly to the shaft 30, and on which two brake shoes52 of spring steel band slide. The brake shoes are held by rotatablebolts 53 which are firmly connected to the support 33. To achieve abraking effect between the braking plate 51 and the support 33 bearingthe brake shoes 52 which rotate at different speeds, the brake shoes areheld and set by screws 54 in such a way that, turned about the centre ofrotation of the bolts 53, they exert a corresponding pressure on thebraking plate.

The braking device 34 gives a completely symmetrical arrangement of allmoving parts and thus an even mass distribution.

The braking device also gives constant strand tension as, at a highrelative speed of rotation, i.e., when the support is rotating at a highspeed, the centrifugal force acting outwards is directed against thespring loading and thus causes a reduction in the braking effect. Thedifferent speed of rotation of the support is a result of a stranduncoiling from a spool with a varying diameter at a constant speed.

The features of the invention can naturally be used not only with thedouble-twister bunching machine described but also with single twistermachines. Instead of two turret-type units of stranding disk andspinning head coupled together several turret-type units coupledtogether can be provided.

I claim:

1. In a stranding machine including a unit for winding stranded cordconsisting of a stranding disk including a stranding axis and a spinninghead, characterised in that as a reserve for the unit there is at leastone further unit consisting of a stranding disk and a spinning headfurther including common shaft means connecting the units so they can bealternatively rotated into the stranding axis.

6 racterised in that the spinning heads include spools outside thestranding axis, said spools being arranged on a rotatable diskconcentrically to the stranding axis.

5. In a stranding machine as claimed in claim 1, in which said spinningheads include a plurality of spools arranged on a rotatable discconcentric to the stranding

1. In a stranding machine including a unit for winding stranded cordconsisting of a stranding disk including a stranding axis and a spinninghead, characterised in that as a reserve for the unit there is at leastone further unit consisting of a stranding disk and a spinning headfurther including common shaft means connecting the units so they can bealternatively rotated into the stranding axis.
 2. In a stranding machineas claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the common shaft isarranged parallel to the stranding axis and has two units arranged at180* to one another.
 3. In a stranding machine as claimed in claim 1,characterised in that each spinning head includes a spinning can and agear, and drive means selectively engagable with the gears of therespective spinning heads.
 4. In a stranding machine as claimed in claim1, characterised in that the spinning heads include spools outside thestranding axis, said spools being arranged on a rotatable diskconcentrically to the stranding axis.
 5. In a stranding machine asclaimed in claim 1, in which said spinning heads include a plurality ofspools arranged on a rotatable disc concentric to the stranding axis.